getchell



Feb. 12 1924.. I 1,483,846

I I B.E.GETCHELL QUICK BREAK SWITCH Fil Y 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATHNEY IN VEN TOR Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,846

B. E. GETCHELL.

QUICK BREAK SWITCH Filed May 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 12/1924.

BENJAMIN n. enrcnnnt, or rice To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAEMUN l1 Geronsim, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Plainville, county ot' l larttord, State or Connecticut, have invented a new and useful QuiclcBreak Switch, or" which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to double throw knife blade switches which are usually enclosed.

The main object is to provide a simple but reliable and effective construction oi this type which will break either of twocircuits with a snap action.

l have shown the invention as applied to a more or less typical or standard. form of double throw switch having one or more blades connected by a cross bar which can ries a pair of pivoted jaws or arms engaged by the opposite sides of the operating crank and connected by a spring. The construc-' tion and operation will be understood from the following specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one term of construction embodying the improvements of my invention, and showing the parts in the open circuit position. t

Figure 2 is a side view and partial section of the switch proper showing the parts in the closed circuit position and indicating in dot-dash lines the relative movement oi certain of the parts at the beginning of the opening movement.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the principal parts separated.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views ot' a modified form of construction.

Each switch member 6 in the form shown has two blades extending substantially at right angles to each other and pivot-ally supported by posts 7 in position to be swung so as to engage either contact 8 or contact 9, depending upon which circuit is to be completed. The switch parts are preferably mounted on an insulating base 10 within a box or receptacle 11. The movable switch members are preferably connected by a crossbar 12 of insulating material. The switch is intended to be operated by any suitable form of external handle 13 and internal crank 14 suitably supported in a box.

The connection between the cranlr l t and Tl lilllldlftl, C BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTUJEHNG (3G1.

1923. Serial l lo. 6 5:9,093.

the movable switch membrane is through nimvahle membe s 1 ib secured to the ore eiiectcd :3 and it: suit nd resilied by the convenience, the members or; llor simph H a single spring I? connectr ant 16 serves to cooperate -th both members l5 and in. [a bi-chet 18 secured to the cross-bar 12 for ins. ice by means of a bolt 19 serves as a support for the arms 15 and 16 which '4 serves to press the arms 7 st the sides oi the (J'lj'ilSSlDZi'i' so that the cro s-bar serves as a stop for the arms and 16 is they more toward each other. The bracket 18 has preferably lugs 22 and 23 which serve us stops to limit the outward swinging movement oi? the arms 15 and 16. lihe engagement oi the lugs 20 and 21 with the sides of the cross-bar serves to aid in supporting the bracket on. the cross bar in its proper position and prevent displacement.

VJhen it is desired to close the circuit by moving the switch member from the position of Figure l. to the position out igure 2, the handle 13 is thrown to the right so that the crank it engages the arm 15 and thus transmits action to the cross-bar l2 and attached switch members. i i hen the switch member 6 engages the stationary contact 8, the triotional resistance retarts the parts until the arm 15 engages the lug A. positive connection is thus effected trom the cranlr l t to the switch member, which enables the op erator to forcibly close the switch. As soon as the switch handle is released the spring it" will throw the crank it and handle back to the position shown in tall iines of Figure To open the circuit the handle 18 is moved toward the and the friction of the contact jaws 8 is sutlicient to hold the switch member stationary until the crank it has moved the arm 16 tar enough to the left to engage the lug 23. 'lthe operating force is thus transmitted positively to start the opening movement of the switch. he soon as the switch member 6 leaves the con tact 8 it snaps away quickly under the impulse 0i the spring 17 even thou "h the handle should be momentarily hel' after the movement had started. lln other words, the mechanism produces a quiclnbrealr which are pivoted to the lugs 20 and till both directions.

cannot be'stopped by the operator when once is started. The operation of closing and opening the circuit between the switch member 6 and contact 9 is effected in the same manner as will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a somewhat different form of construction which however operates in the same manner as the one above described. The bracket 18' is secured to the cross-bar 12 in this case by means of two screws 19, and the lugs 20 and 21 serve as pivotal supports for the arms 15' and 16 respectively. The ends of these arms are offset and the connecting spring 17 lies. between them. The cross-- bar 12 serves as an inner abutment to the arms 15 and 16'. The outward swinging movement of the arms is limited by the extensions 24 and 25 which are adapted respectively to abut against the underside of the bracket 18 when the arms are swung out wardly by the cr'ank let. Such a construction has certain advantages under some circumstances. Separate stops such as 26 and 27 may be provided desired for limiting the throw of the handle or operating crank. In bothforms herein shown there is a bracket carrying two pivoted arms connected by a single spring for affording equal tension in both directions and having stops to limit the relative movements of the arms in When either arm is moved it applies added tension to the other arm.

It should be understood that other alterations and modifications may be made within 1. In a quick break switch, a double throw 7 switch member, two movable arms carried thereb abutments therefor, yielding means for ho ding said arms in the normal position of rest, and a crank adapted to engage either of said arms to operate said switch member.

2. In a quick break switch, av movable switch member, arms pivotally secured thereto, a spring connecting said arms and an operating crank for engaging said arms.

8. In a quick break. switch, a pivoted switch member, two arm members movab-ly connected therewith, resilient means for holding said members in their normal positions of rest, a crank for alternatively engaging said arms to operate said switch member.

t. In a quick bre'ak switch, stationary switch contacts, a double throw switch 111811lber pivotally mounted between said. contacts and adapted to engage either one of said contacts, an operating crank and two resiliently connected arms coacting between said crank and said movable switch member to open or close the circuit.

5. A quick break switch comprising stationary switch jaws, a double throw switch member mounted to move between said jaws, an operating crank, pivoted arms mounted to cooperate with said movable switch member and said crank and spring means for operating said arms.

6. A quick break switch comprising stationary contacts, a movable switch member, a bracket carried thereby, arms pivotally mounted on said bracket, spring means for normally holding said arms against; said bracket and an operating crank interposed between said arms.

7. A double throw quick break switch comprising a movable switch member, stationary contacts ad'aptcd to be engaged thereby, a bracket movable with said switch member having outer and inner stops, spring pressed arms mounted to move between said stops and an operating crank cooperating with said arms.

8. A quick break switch comprising stationary and movable members, a cross bar connecting the movable members, arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said cross bar, spring means for normally holding said arms against said cross bar and an opera tin g crank having a portion interposed between said arms- 9. A quick break switch comprising movable switch members a cross bar connecting said members, arms movably carried by said cross bar, resilient means for pressing said arms against the opposite sides of said cross bar, stops for limiting the outward movement of said arms and an operating member interposed between said arms.

10. As an article of manufacture, a self contained snap action device for a double throw electric switch comprising a bracket, arms pivotally carried by said bracket, a spring connecting said arms and normally holding them against said bracket and coacting a'butments integral respectively with said bracket and said arms for limiting the outward movement of said arms.

11. In a double throw switch, a quick break switch including a bracket, two arms pivotally carried thereby, stops therefor, and a single spring connecting said arms.

12. In a double throw switch, a quick break mechanism including an insulating support, two arms pivotally carried thereby, a single spring connecting said arms, and an operating member movable between said arms.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL. 

